Gravity fed paper towel holder

ABSTRACT

A paper towel holder having a mounting bracket having a first side member and a second side member which are substantially parallel to one another, a front member operatively arranged transversely and perpendicularly to the first and second side members and fixedly secured to the front ends of each side member, a first mounting arm having a first mounting flange, and a second mounting arm having a second mounting flange, where the first side member comprises a first tripartite track fixedly secured to the first mounting arm, and the second side member comprises a second tripartite track fixedly secured to the second mounting arm, where each of the tripartite tracks slopes downwardly with respect to the first and second mounting flanges; and a tube arranged transversely to the first and second tripartite tracks and arranged to move along the tracks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to paper towel holders and, more specifically, to gravity fed paper towel holders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of paper towel holders is known in the art. Paper towels were first introduced in the early 1930's. Arthur Scott developed paper towels from a shipment of toilet paper that had been rolled too thickly. He perforated the paper into sheets and sold them as the first disposable paper towels. This prompted a need for the development of paper towel holders. Basic paper towel holders began as a wooden spindle atop a base. Overtime paper towel holders have evolved into a variety of configurations but have also become complicated and cumbersome to use.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,973,354 (Nedberg) discloses a mountable paper towel holder and dispenser comprising sides having inclined apertures which are mountable to a wall and an abutment member against which the roll is pressed by its own weight and gravity. The inclined apertures support a cylindrical roll, which holds a paper roll. A shortcoming of this invention is that it does not have side members comprising corresponding tracks operatively arranged on the inner surface of each side member. Additionally, Nedberg does not disclose a rubberized front member, the absence of which can make tearing individual paper sheets difficult.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,432,194 (Liddell) discloses a toilet paper roll holder comprising a back plate and upwardly projecting brackets having longitudinal apertures. The longitudinal apertures have upwardly opening loops and springs operatively arranged to permit the insertion of a paper roll into, but not the extraction of a paper roll, from the slot. Liddell does not disclose a front member or downwardly projecting brackets.

Many paper towel holders require additional effort on the part of the user to operate the paper towel holder. Complicated braking mechanisms and rotation control devices lead to further manufacturing costs and time. Additionally, loading products onto and operating such a holder is complicated by these cumbersome features. These features also reduce the aesthetic appeal of the holder, and make the holder more difficult to operate.

Thus, there is a long-felt need for a paper towel holder that can accommodate paper towel products of varying diameters. Additionally, there is a long-felt need for a paper towel holder where gravity moves the paper towel product along a track as the sheets are depleted and the sheets constantly engage the front member for easy tearing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a paper towel holder including a mounting bracket and a tube. The mounting bracket has a first side member and a second side member, which are substantially parallel to one another. The mounting bracket further includes a front member operatively arranged transversely and perpendicularly to the first side member and the second side member and fixedly secured to the front ends of each side member. The first side member includes a first mounting arm having a first mounting flange fixedly secured to the first mounting arm. The second side member includes a second mounting arm having a second mounting flange fixedly secured to the second mounting arm. The first and second mounting flanges are substantially parallel to one another and are arranged in a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second mounting arms. The first side member includes a first tripartite track fixedly secured to the first mounting arm and the second side member includes a second tripartite track fixedly secured to the second mounting arm. Each of the tripartite tracks slopes downwardly with respect to the first and second mounting flanges. The tube is arranged transversely to the first and second tripartite tracks and arranged to move along the tracks.

In a preferred embodiment, the tube is operatively arranged to constantly engage the central tube of a rolled paper product when the tube is inserted into the central tube. The front member is operatively arranged to constantly engage the sheets of the rolled paper product when the tube is engaged with the tracks. Additionally, the front member is operatively arranged to impede the rotation of a rolled paper product when sheets of material are torn free. The first mounting flange and the second mounting flange are mountable about a planar surface and are operatively arranged to be securable preferably by screws but can be secured by any suitable means, such as adhesive, magnets, etc. The first mounting arm and the second mounting arm are L-shaped. The tube has a first tube end, a second tube end, and a center, and the first and second tube ends are greater in diameter than the center.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a paper towel holder that can accommodate rolled paper products of varying diameters.

It is also a general object of the present invention to provide a paper towel holder where gravity moves the rolled paper product along a track as the sheets are depleted and the sheets constantly engage the front member for easy tearing.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the gravity fed paper towel holder of the present invention, shown holding a rolled paper product;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the paper towel holder shown in FIG. 1, but with the rolled paper product removed;

FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the paper towel holder shown in FIG. 2, depicting the attachment means of a first mounting arm;

FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the paper towel holder shown in FIG. 2, similar to that of FIG. 3A, except showing the attachment means of a second mounting arm;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder taken generally along line 4A-4A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder taken generally along line 4B-4B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4C is a detailed view of a section of front member 14 of the paper towel holder, illustrating area 4C of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of tube 27 of the paper towel holder of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of first tube end 28 taken generally along line 5B-5B of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the paper towel holder of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of first mounting arm 18 and tube 27 taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary left side elevational view of first mounting arm 18 and first tripartite track 33;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder shown in FIG. 9 except with the rolled paper product removed and the paper towel holder shown secured to a wall;

FIG. 11 is cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder, similar to that of FIG. 9, shown holding a full rolled paper product;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder, similar to that of FIG. 11, shown after the rolled paper product of FIG. 11 has been partially depleted, and the roll has progressed leftwardly along the track;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder, similar to that of FIG. 12, shown after the rolled paper product of FIG. 12 has been even further depleted, and the roll has progressed even further leftwardly along the track; and,

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the paper towel holder, similar to that of FIG. 13, shown after the rolled paper product of FIGS. 11-13 has been completely depleted, and the roll has progressed to the far leftward end of the track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and, as such, may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that the term “substantially” is synonymous with terms such as “nearly”, “very nearly”, “about”, “approximately”, “around”, “bordering on”, “close to”, “essentially”, “in the neighborhood of”, “in the vicinity of”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.

Adverting now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention gravity fed paper towel holder, hereinafter referred to as paper towel holder 10. Generally, paper towel holder 10 comprises mounting bracket 11 and tube 27 (shown in FIG. 2). Paper towel holder 10 is generally adapted to hold a standard rolled paper product, as is shown in the figures holding rolled paper product 20, which generally includes central tube 26 around which paper is rolled and sheets 25, which are intended to be torn off by a user. In a preferred embodiment, tube 27 is operatively arranged to constantly engage central tube 26 of rolled paper product 20 when tube 27 is inserted into central tube 26.

Mounting bracket 11 has first side member 12 and second side member 13, which are substantially parallel to one another. Mounting bracket 11 further includes front member 14 operatively arranged transversely and perpendicularly to first side member 12 and second side member 13 and fixedly secured to the front ends of each side member.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of paper towel holder 10 similar to the view shown in FIG. 1 except shown without a rolled paper product. First side member 12 has first outer surface 22 (shown in FIG. 3A) and first mounting arm 18 and second side member 13 has outer surface 23 and second mounting arm 19 (shown in FIG. 3A). Preferably, the edges of the side members and front member are curved for both aesthetic appeal and safety. Additionally, first mounting arm 18 includes first mounting flange 15, first flange apertures 31 a and 31 b and first tripartite track 33. Similarly, second mounting arm 19 includes second mounting flange 16 (shown in FIG. 3A), second flange apertures 32 a and 32 b (shown in FIG. 3B), and second tripartite track 34 (shown in FIG. 3B). First and second mounting flanges 15 and 16 are substantially parallel to one another and are arranged in a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to first and second mounting arms 18 and 19.

In a preferred embodiment, the side members are mirror images of one another. The rear ends where the mounting flanges are disposed are larger in dimension than the front ends where the front member is disposed such that the side members gradually taper towards the front ends. However, it should be appreciated that the side members can also vary in size, shape, color, etc. from one another without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention paper towel holder. In a preferred embodiment, screws are inserted into the corresponding flange apertures to fixedly secure paper towel holder 10 to a planar surface. It should be appreciated that the mounting bracket of the present invention may be adapted to be mounted to any planar surface, such as a wall, cabinet interior, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention paper towel holder. Each of the tracks slopes downwardly with respect to first and second mounting flanges 15 and 16. Tube 27 is arranged transversely to first and second tracks 33 and 34 and arranged to move along the tracks.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded views of paper towel holder 10, depicting the attachment means of first mounting arm 18 and second mounting arm 19. In a preferred embodiment, first mounting arm 18 is fixedly secured to first side member 12 via first screws 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, and 42 d, which are inserted into and threadably engage corresponding first apertures 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, and 44 d. The first screws are rotated clockwise to secure the first mounting arm to the first side member and are rotated counterclockwise to remove the first mounting arm from the first side member. In a preferred embodiment, second mounting arm 19 is fixedly secured to second side member 13 via second screws 43 a, 43 b, 43 c, and 43 d, which are inserted into and threadably engage corresponding second apertures 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, and 44 d. The first screws are rotated clockwise to secure the first mounting arm to the first side member and are rotated counterclockwise to remove the first mounting arm from the first side member. It should be appreciated that the mounting arms may be affixed to the corresponding side members by any suitable means, such as screws, nails, adhesive, glue, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting arms are L-shaped. Each mounting arms has a longitudinal section, which is affixed to the side member and the mounting flange, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal section. However, it should be appreciated that the mounting arms can be any suitable shape, size, dimension, etc. Tube 27 includes first tube end 28 and second tube end 29, which correspond with first track 33 and second tack 34, respectively.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of paper towel holder 10 taken generally along line 4A-4A of FIG. 2. FIG. 4A shows first mounting arm 18 fixedly secured to side member 12 and first tube end 28 engaged with first track 33. First track 33 includes first track end 35 and first U-shaped end 38. Second track 34 includes second track end 36 and second U-shaped end 39. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of paper towel holder 10 taken generally along line 4B-4B of FIG. 2. FIG. 4B illustrates second tube end 29 engaged with second track 34. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and in detail in FIG. 4C, front member 14 comprises rubberized front member 41 and front abutment member 48. Rubberized front member 41 is affixed to the bottom surface of front member 14. In a preferred embodiment, front abutment member 48 is integral with and extends outwardly from rubberized front member 41. As shown in FIG. 9, front abutment member 48 is operatively arranged to impede the rotation of a rolled paper product when sheets are torn free.

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of tube 27. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of first tube end 28 taken generally along line 5B-5B of FIG. 5A. In a preferred embodiment, first tube end 28 and second tube end 29 (not shown in FIG. 5B) are integral with tube 27. It should be appreciated that the tube ends may be made of any suitable material and need not be integral with the tube. In other embodiments, the tube ends may be welded, adhesed, etc., to the tube.

FIG. 6 through 8 illustrate first mounting arm 18 and first track 33. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of paper towel holder 10. In a preferred embodiment, rubberized front member 41 spans the entire length of the bottom surface of front member 14. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of first mounting arm 18 and tube 27 taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 4A. Each track 33 and 34 extends outwardly from corresponding first and second mounting arms 18 and 19, respectively, and curves upwardly to form a recessed groove that is operatively arranged to hold corresponding first and second tube ends 28 and 29.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of paper towel holder 10 similar to that of FIG. 4A except showing first mounting flange 15 fixedly operatively arranged to be securable to wall 30. In a preferred embodiment, when mounting bracket 11 is mounted about a planar surface, such as wall 30, the side members slope downwardly. Additionally, as described above, the tracks slope downwardly as well. First and second tracks 33 and 34 each include first section 51 and a second section 52. First section 51 is arranged at an angle θ relative to line p-p, which imaginary line is perpendicular to first and second mounting flanges 15 and 16. Second section 52 is arranged at an angle σ relative to line p-p. In a preferred embodiment, angle θ is greater than angle σ. For example, preferably, angle θ is approximately 38 degrees and second angle σ is approximately 22 degrees. Thus, the slope of first section 51 is greater than the slope of second section 52. In a preferred embodiment, flanges 15 and 16 are co-planar and arranged to be mounted to a vertical wall. In view of the geometric relationship of the structural elements of the invention described above, i.e., imaginary line p-p drawn perpendicular to the flanges (and to the wall to which they are attached), it is seen that the tracks slope downwardly with respect to the wall and with respect to the flanges, resulting in gravity forcing the roll of paper towels to roll down the tracks.

FIGS. 11 through 14 are cross-sectional views of paper towel holder 10 similar to that of FIG. 9, shown holding rolled paper products with varying amounts of remaining sheets. For example, in FIG. 11, paper towel holder 10 is shown holding a full rolled paper product. FIG. 12 illustrates paper towel holder 10 shown after the rolled paper product of FIG. 11 has been partially depleted, and the roll has progressed leftwardly along the track. FIG. 13 shows paper towel holder 10 shown after the rolled paper product of FIG. 12 has been even further depleted, and the roll has progressed even further leftwardly along the track. FIG. 14 depicts paper towel holder 10 shown after the rolled paper product of FIGS. 11-13 has been completely depleted, and the roll has progressed to the far leftward end of the track.

In a preferred embodiment, when the rolled paper product is full, first tube end 28 is recessed within first track 33 such that it is disposed adjacent to first track end 35 and second tube end 29 is recessed within second track 34 such that it is disposed adjacent to second track end 36. As sheets 25 are removed from rolled paper product 20, the diameter of rolled paper product 20 decreases causing tube 27 to move downwardly due to the gravitational force exerted thereon. Once sheets 25 have been completely depleted, tube 27 progresses as far downwardly as possible until first tube end 28 is stopped by first U-shaped track end 38 and second tube end 29 is stopped by second U-shaped track end 39. Until all sheets 25 have been depleted, sheets 25 constantly engage front abutment member 48, as the tube progresses downwardly along the tracks.

In a preferred embodiment, paper towel holder 10 is made of metal. However, it should be appreciated that paper towel holder 10 may be made of any suitable substantially rigid material, such as metal, plastic, wood, etc. It should also be appreciated that other attachment means can be configured from a variety of well-known methods of attachment to a substantially vertical surface. For example, mounting bracket 11 may be operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via magnets, adhesive, screws, nails, and the like.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper towel holder, comprising: a mounting bracket having a first side member and a second side member which are substantially parallel to one another, a front member operatively arranged transversely and perpendicularly to said first side member and said second side member and fixedly secured to front ends of each said side member, a first mounting arm having a first mounting flange fixedly secured to said first mounting arm, a second mounting arm having a second mounting flange fixedly secured to said second mounting arm, where said first and second mounting flanges are substantially parallel to one another and are arranged in a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to said first and second mounting arms; wherein said first side member comprises a first tripartite track fixedly secured to said first mounting arm, and said second side member comprises a second tripartite track fixedly secured to said second mounting arm, wherein each of said tripartite tracks slopes downwardly with respect to said first and second mounting flanges; and, a tube arranged transversely to said first and second tripartite tracks and arranged to move along said tracks.
 2. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said first and second tripartite tracks each have a first section and a second section, said first section and said second section each slope downwardly with respect to said first and second mounting flanges, and wherein said first section is arranged at an angle θ relative to a perpendicular line to said first and second mounting flanges, and wherein said second section is arranged at an angle σ relative to said perpendicular line to said first and second mounting flanges, wherein θ is greater than σ.
 3. The paper towel holder of claim 2, wherein said angle θ is in the range of approximately 30 degrees to 50 degrees.
 4. The paper towel holder of claim 3, wherein said angle θ is approximately 38 degrees.
 5. The paper towel holder of claim 2, wherein said angle σ is in the range of approximately 10 degrees to 30 degrees.
 6. The paper towel holder of claim 5, wherein said angle σ is approximately 22 degrees.
 7. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said tube is operatively arranged to constantly engage the central tube of a rolled paper product when said tube is inserted into said central tube.
 8. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said front member is operatively arranged to constantly engage the sheets of a rolled paper product when said tube is engaged with said tracks.
 9. The paper towel holder of claim 2, wherein said front member is operatively arranged to impede the rotation of a rolled paper product when sheets of material are torn free.
 10. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be mountable to a planar surface.
 11. The paper towel holder of claim 10, wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via screws.
 12. The paper towel holder of claim 10, wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via repositionable adhesive.
 13. The paper towel holder of claim 10, wherein said first mounting flange and said second mounting flange are operatively arranged to be securable to a planar surface via magnets.
 14. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said first mounting arm and said second mounting arm are L-shaped.
 15. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said tube has a first tube end, a second tube end, and a center, and said first tube end and said second tube end are greater in diameter than said center.
 16. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said paper towel holder is made of metal.
 17. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said paper towel holder is made of plastic.
 18. The paper towel holder of claim 1, wherein said paper towel holder is made of wood. 